U.S. News & World Report’s college rankings are out and William Carey University earned the No. 3 Spot in the “Best Value” category among regional universities in the South. The new 2019 rankings were released Sept. 10.

In addition to the school’s academic quality, the rankings considered factors such as the 2017-18 net cost of attendance for a student who received the average amount of need-based financial aid, the percentage of all undergraduates receiving need-based awards, and the percentage of a school’s total cost covered by these awards.

U.S. News & World Report also recognized William Carey in three other categories:

Overall, William Carey was ranked No. 39 out of 151 schools in its list of best regional universities in the South, which includes public and private universities in the 12 Southern states. Five Mississippi schools were ranked in this category: Mississippi College (No. 32), William Carey (No. 39), Mississippi University for Women (No. 59), Belhaven (No. 65) and Alcorn State (No. 89).

The rankings recognized William Carey University as an “A+ School for B Students” among regional Southern universities. This ranking takes into account the individuality of the student body and opportunities available for students who did not make high ACT or SAT scores or did not place in the top 25 percent of their high school class.

In another category that considered affordability, William Carey was included in a list of the five regional, Southern universities whose students had the least debt at graduation.

“We are pleased with these rankings, especially the No. 3 Best Value ranking, because William Carey is committed to making a quality education accessible to a broad range of students. As a practical matter, we also deliver on that ideal. More than 90 percent of our students receive financial aid,” said WCU President Dr. Tommy King.

“Interestingly, U.S. News & World Report is not the only ranking organization that has recently recognized William Carey for providing good value to students.”

Washington Monthly, another prominent ranking organization, awarded William Carey the No. 2 spot in its new “Best Bang for the Buck/Southern Colleges.”

Robert Kelchen, an assistant professor at Seton Hall University and data manager of the Washington Monthly College Guide, describes the “Best Bang” list as “our exclusive list of schools that help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.”

“The ‘Best Bang for the Buck’ colleges across each of the five regions are a mix of some of America’s most elite institutions and hidden gems that make up for a lack of name recognition with strong student outcomes and a commitment to social mobility,” Kelchen said.

Finally, College Consensus, a new college review aggregator, recognized William Carey as No. 18 in its list of “100 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S.”

“It’s no secret that tuition prices have been rising precipitously for more than a decade, at schools of all kinds – public and private, big and small, elite and obscure. That’s why it’s more important than ever for colleges and universities to recognize the needs of students, and to take measures to keep tuition affordable,” said Carole Baker, College Consensus director of marketing.

“The College Consensus ranking of the “100 Most Affordable Colleges & Universities” brings students’ attention to the institutions that combine proven quality with reasonable costs.”

College Consensus also ranked William Carey as No. 3 in its list of “Best Colleges in Mississippi.”

About William Carey University: WCU provides quality educational programs within a caring Christian academic community, which challenge the individual student to excel in scholarship, leadership, and service in a diverse global society. Campuses are located in Hattiesburg and Biloxi.